Mary Schuler and friends at their March JCA bake sale to raise awareness and funds for hydrocephalus.

Back in March, Joliet Catholic Academy students and student council moderator Mrs. Suzi Arnett hosted area grade school student Mary Schuler’s bake sale as part of a Christian service project.

Mary, a 12-year-old St. Raymond’s Grade School student, has lived with a shunt from her brain to her stomach since she was 8 weeks old, as a result of suffering from hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus, according to the Hydrocephalus Association, is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within cavities in the brain called ventricles. In infants as the ventricles enlarge, the pressure causes the head to increase in size. More than 1 million people in the United States have hydrocephalus.

In order to raise funds and awareness, Mary and a group of her friends spent a day in the cafeteria at JCA, selling baked goods to students, raising over $200 in the process.

“I thought it was a good way to spread the cause,” Arnett said, “and for the high school kids to show the younger students what it is to do service.”

Friends, relatives and even Mary herself baked for the sale. Arnett said about 40 students brought treats for Mary’s bake sale, which was held March 30 at Joliet Catholic Academy.

In addition to a table and signs setup in the cafeteria for that purpose, Mary walked around the tables with a tray during four lunch periods, talking to high school students and staff about hydrocephalus and selling them goodies, Arnett added.

The following day, student council sold any leftover goodies and gave the money to Mary, Arnett said.

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DONATE

Mary and her family aren’t done raising money or awareness. They are participating in a Hydrocephalus Association walk in Chicago on August 29, 2015. To donate, or for information, visit Mary’s page at http://shawurl.com/1zwx.

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Excerpts from article written by Denise M. Baran-Unland for The (Joliet) Herald-News/Shaw Media. To read the entire article, Baran-Unland: Twelve-year-old Joliet girl with hydrocephalus raises money, awareness: Click Here.